Newsroom

On this international mine awareness day, Belgium reaffirms its unfailing support for the fight against anti-personnel mines, indiscriminate weapons that still cause too many victims around the world today.

March 8 marks International Women's Rights Day. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Philippe Goffin, assures that Belgium continues to be actively involved worldwide for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls. On Friday, March 6, Minister Goffin reaffirmed this commitment by organising an event at the Egmont Palace entitled "The Ambassadors of Belgian Diversity", which highlights the importance of women's rights and diversity to a diverse audience of representatives from government, parliament, civil society, the private sector and some 50 ambassadors accredited in Brussels.

Belgium is putting the issue of children in armed conflict on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, which our country presides over this month. February 12 is the “International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers”, and our country will use that symbolic day to issue a call to action. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Philippe Goffin will chair the briefing at the UNSC on integrating child protection measures into peace processes. King Filip will address the UNSC on behalf of our country.

This Thursday, 30 January 2020 - the first World Day for the Fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases - the Democratic Republic of Congo is celebrating its 3rd National Day for the Fight against Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. "Belgium fully supports the eradication of sleeping sickness in DRC", says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo. Together with Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès, he will visit DRC next week, where attention will also be paid to the eradication of the sleeping sickness.

Today is International Human Rights Day. Minister of Foreign Affairs Philippe Goffin confirms that Belgium remains committed to the protection and promotion of all human rights for all.

Today, we celebrate the United Nations Day as a commemoration of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter in 1945. The Charter established the international organization. Belgium was one of the first countries to sign the Charter and the United Nations remains a unique global framework for realizing our multilateral commitment.

Today we celebrate the European and World Day against the Death Penalty. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders repeats that Belgium remains strongly committed to the universal abolition of the death penalty.

On 21 September, we celebrate the International Day of Peace. This year's theme is "Climate Action for Peace". Right up our alley as Belgium is committed to the fight against climate change.

Today is the International Day for Peacekeepers. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders wishes to pay a special tribute to the more than 100.000 men and women, originating from 122 countries, who serve with dedication under the flag of the United Nations in the fourteen peacekeeping operations deployed around the world. Through their engagement and their courage, they embody the ideals of the United Nations.

Today is the international day to combat racism and discrimination. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders attaches great importance to this issue and calls for continued joint efforts in this fight. Unfortunately, racism and other forms of discrimination are still a reality worldwide, also within the EU and Belgium.